12-July-2008
The Government has committed itself to a long-term 25-year strategy to improve flood defences, according to Environment Minister Phil Woolas.
This will include defending against surface water flooding, which was the main cause of last year's June floods in Hull and the East Riding.
The Environment Agency has revealed its annual budget will leap from £612mto £804m over the next two years.
It is hoped this will see insurers guarantee to provide protection to more properties that are at risk from flooding.
“This increase will now allow us to meet the requirements for flood defences set down by insurers.”
However, it is not clear how much of this money will specifically go towards flood defences in Hull and the East Riding.
It comes after the insurance industry refused to guarantee cover unless the Government invested more money in flood prevention work.
Mr Woolas said: “The insurance companies very reasonably said that it is necessary to have a long-term strategy – 25 years is the figure that we are going ahead with.
“We are looking at coastal flooding as well as river flooding and surface water flooding to ensure the increased investment we have is sustained in the long-term.”
Burstwick flood victim Nick Drewery believes the announcement should have been made much earlier.
He said: “It is now over a year since the floods and it is certainly time the government got it sorted.”